Urgent Request to Save another Forest in Urban Kingston!
On April 4th the Planning Committee will be discussing the fate of a 7 hectare woodland at the mouth of Collin’s Creek in the far western border of Urban Kingston. The developer is proposing to clearcut much of the property (4085 Bath Rd) and construct over 300 condominium homes in the form of single-detached houses, and double- and triple-stacked townhouses. There will be no affordable housing.
The white line indicates the development site. The red line is the 50-meter riparian buffer, meaning that all trees within the white boundary to the east of the red line will be removed.
Please consider registering to speak at this meeting and ask others to do so. You can also write a letter and read it on the Zoom connection so that it reaches the online audience. You can register but later decide not to speak. We are about to lose hundreds of mature trees in a significant woodland.
Phone 613-546-4291 ex 1170 to register. You can also register via Zoom and receive the meeting link. The meeting link will also contain instructions if you wish to participate via telephone.
Letters should be emailed, by noon on Thursday April 4th, to Christine O’Connor, the Planning Committee Clerk, at cloconnor@cityofkingston.ca. State that it is regarding PC 24-001 and ask her to include it in the official records. Sign it and include your postal code.
More information on the development can be seen in the Report to Planning Committee Report Number PC-24-001. The letters from concerned citizens, starting on page 182, are a good place to start.
Here are some talking and/or writing points.
Kingston declared a climate emergency in 2019. We must carefully plan how we develop Kingston’s urban and rural regions so that biodiversity is maintained - and preferably enhanced - in our work towards mitigating climate change.
On 19 March City Council agreed to become a signatory to the Montreal Biodiversity Pledge, promising to:
1 Reduce threats to biodiversity.
2 Share benefits of biodiversity.
3 Create solutions through cross-cultural governance, management and education.
International Bird Day is April 2nd and National Wildlife Week begins April 8th. They should inspire us to reflect on how we envision our city in the future.
Zoning bylaw and OP amendments must be directed towards Kingston protecting biodiversity in all its forms. We cannot continue to allow the destruction of the few areas of wildness left.
In our view the proposed development at the far western edge of Kingston’s urban boundary ignores the dangers that face all of us and, more fundamentally, future generations. It requires the destruction of a significant and a contributory woodland and the reduction of a riparian border along Collin’s Creek. The creek is an established area of biodiversity and heat-zone protection — both of which are integral components of climate mitigation. Collin’s Creek is also a major river for fish spawning, including slamon, pike, walleye and rainbow trout.
The site is the southernmost tip of the area called ‘Mile Square’. The woodland and riparian zone links this property to a much larger natural heritage area, also under pressure by developers to have the urban boundary increased on Kingston’s west side. Development of this site will be a step towards urban boundary extension and loss of significant biodiversity.
Other points of concern:
1. There is concern that information on this file is incomplete and therefore any decision would be premature.
For example, the engineering report is not complete as it has not been ‘stamped’ so. The Tree Inventory is also not complete (see (4)).
2. How does this proposal address the fact that affordable housing is the most required type in Ontario?
This proposal only adds to Kingston’s condominium pool, already well supplied.
3. Is active transportation readily and safely available to the potential residents?
Cycling along Bath Rd west of Collin’s Bay Road is confined to a narrow and dangerous paved shoulder. This will not be conducive to active transportation of the potentially hundreds of new residents.
4. The Tree Inventory is not complete.
Not a single conifer is listed although many conifers including native White Pines and Red Cedars are present. All the trees in the inventory are listed in ‘poor’ condition with “30% dead limbs and vine-covered canopies”. Just like human populations, woodlands are made up of every age and health of trees. They all provide benefits to support many different species of other plants, animals and birds. Even the well-known chickadee and Downy woodpecker require nest holes, usually in dead trees, for their nests. Many ephemeral woodland plants, including the trillium, only survive in shaded woodlands. The commonest vine in this area is the wild grape. This does not kill trees.
5. There is substantial empirical evidence from archeologists and local indigenous and settler people that this site was likely used by indigenous groups as a fishing ground and habitation.
A thorough archeological analysis of the property must be completed prior to any development on the site.
You could end your letter asking the Committee to vote against the requested Zoning Bylaw and Official Plan amendments.